The Realm Page 4

  Shaye patted my hand. “But Austin said no, of course. You’re safe. You don’t need to worry.”

  I grimaced. “That werewolf has some nerve.”

  Eve had a sip of tea, looking thoughtful. “Are you interested in him perhaps a little? I saw you two dancing last night…”

  “Yes, and I saw you snogging Balkyn. Does that mean you want to be gifted to him?”

  “No, of course not.” Eve reddened then busied herself with her tea. I wondered if she would really mind it so much after all.

  “Rhys isn’t familiar with our ways.” Gwyneth speared a bite of waffle and studied me. “He didn’t mean to insult you, I don’t think. The wolves have a different take on relationships, from what I understand.”

  “He’s a savage.” My cheeks heated, remembering our conversation. “In all my experiences with men, I’ve never had one speak to me like that.”

  “Rhys just doesn’t know how to romance a human. He doesn’t understand courtship. If he knew better, I’m sure he would’ve been more appropriate.” Gwyneth always saw the good in people, which this morning only served to annoy me.

  “May I join you?” Mira Kinney swooped down on us in a cloud of perfume, her face already fully made up and flawless. That morning, she wore high-heeled boots and a high-necked fitted floral gown. She dropped into a seat and looked out at the sprawling green grounds. “Ah, what a lovely view. There’s nothing quite like the sunrise in the North, is there?”

  She looked at the four of us and frowned. “What’re you gossiping about? Why do you look so serious? Tell me everything. You know I hate to miss out.”

  I sighed. “We’re talking about last night, of course.”

  “Ah.” Mira added a sugar cube to her tea. “How’d it go with that werewolf? I daresay I saw him eyeing you the entire evening as though you were a juicy filet mignon.”

  Eve almost spit out her tea. I cleared my throat, keeping Mira’s attention focused on my end of the table. “He was a perfect gentleman, of course. I was very proud to be chosen as his date.”

  “So.” The television host leaned closer. “What’s next for you two?”

  “I’m not sure, Mira.” I chose my words carefully, cognizant of needing to put Rhys in a good light. “He would like a serious relationship, I believe. He’ll be crowned king soon and is looking for someone to rule by his side.”

  She waggled her expertly manicured eyebrows. “Any idea who he’s got in mind?”

  “I consider Rhys a friend, but I can’t speak for him, of course.” I made sure my tone was diplomatic. “As the newest member of the court, it’s imperative that he choose someone who can help him navigate the complexities of royal life. I’m sure he’ll do so soon, and wisely.”

  Mira smiled at me in triumph. “I think I know the perfect young woman.”

  I chuckled. Keeping my tone light, I said, “I can assure you that he and I are friends, nothing more. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I must walk Elsa and Beast. They’re beside themselves about missing all the fun last night.” I hastily left the table. I didn’t want to talk about Rhys and his desire for a mate anymore. Troubling thoughts were bad for my complexion. I’d fulfilled my duty, and the werewolf was no longer my problem.

  I needed to clear my head, so I stayed outside with the gnomes for hours. They gleefully whizzed in and out of the gardens. Part of me wished I could join them and ignore the scenes of dancing with Rhys that kept flashing in my mind—how he’d leaned over me, what he’d smelled like, the way he’d said, “Once you have a taste of the big bad wolf…”

  The nerve! Though it had been funny when he’d choked on that puffed pastry. Perhaps I should send him another one. What irked me most was that I couldn’t stop thinking about him. I didn’t understand it, yet my thoughts continued to circle back to the hairy rogue.

  “Tamara!” Blake skipped down the lawn toward me. Gone was the formal bride from the previous day. She looked much more like herself, wearing trousers and an infectious grin, her long hair loose and tumbling over her shoulders. “There you are. I’ve been looking everywhere.”

  “Hello, Princess.” I grinned. “How does it feel to be royal?”

  She laughed. “It feels just as I expected—exactly the same as being a nonroyal. Nothing is different except for my heart. It is completely full. I’m so thrilled to finally be married to Austin.”

  “You are very lucky to have each other. I wish you many blessings.” I meant it sincerely. I was thrilled to see my friend settled and happy.

  Her eyes filled with tears again. “You have gone positively soft on me, you know that?”

  “Ha! I have not.” I wiped at my eyes as I changed the subject. “Elsa and Beast are going a bit wild this morning. I’m afraid they felt rather left out.”

  “I begged Austin to let them be part of the ceremony, but that was the one thing he said no to. He said his father is scandalized by the fact that we’re keeping gnomes as pets.” Blake crossed her arms. “But don’t let me go off on that—I didn’t come here to complain. I came to say thank you for the wedding of my dreams. Everyone has been talking about how it was the most exciting event in the history of the North. My maids keep begging me to ask you to plan a ball next.”

  “I’d love to. Tell me when, Your Highness, and we’ll have another celebration. Perhaps to mark your one-month anniversary?”

  “Oh yes! That’d be lovely. Everyone will be so excited. So, will you stay on in the North?” she asked, eyes sparkling. “Gwyneth and Dallas return to the settlements tomorrow, as do the king and queen. My family will stay for a few days more to visit, but then we’ll be getting back into a routine. Eve will remain to work with the Guard. I was hoping you and Shaye would stay on as well. It’s much more fun with you here.”

  “Thank you for the invitation.” Truth be told, I wanted to remain in the North. I was surprised by how much I loved it. The enormous grounds and sumptuous gardens felt like home, and being near my friends was wonderful. “I should speak with Austin and Dallas about it, I suppose, to see what they’d like me to do next as Goodwill Ambassador.”

  “Austin might have an idea about that.” Blake looked guilty…or maybe I was just imagining it. “He said he’d join us out here—ah, here he is.”

  The prince sauntered toward us. A smile lit his face as he reached for his new wife. “Hello, my love.” He wrapped her in an embrace and kissed the top of her head, and Blake threw her arms around his neck. I busied myself looking for the gnomes, not wanting to spoil the newlyweds’ moment.

  “Tamara,” the prince said after a moment, “I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for organizing the wedding. It was perfect, a phenomenal success. I enjoyed every moment.”

  “You’re welcome. Like I said, it was my pleasure. I thought the whole thing went very smoothly.”

  Austin nodded, his expression turning thoughtful. “After such a success, I’d like to broach something else with you if that would be all right.”

  “Is it about your canine friend?” I snorted. “I had enough of him last night.”

  “Ha, I suppose you did.” Austin scrubbed a hand over his face. “Listen, the thing is… Rhys is quite taken with you.”

  I put my hands on my hips. “Tell me something I don’t know, Your Highness.”

  The prince laughed again, but this time it sounded strained. “He asked me if you would consider…um, well, it’s unconventional.”

  “He asked if I would consider becoming his bride, you mean? He already asked me about it, and I am not interested.”

  Austin reddened. “I guessed as much, Lady Layne. But something else has come up, and he asked me if you would consider an alternative, er, situation.”

  I frowned at the prince. “Go on.”

  “Mira Kinney came to see me after breakfast this morning.” The prince wrung his hands. “She said you two talked about the fact that Rhys was in need of a queen.”

  My hackles rose. “Yes, we spoke about it briefly.”


  “Well, the thing is…” Austin turned and looked at Blake helplessly. “Can you do this for me, darling?”

  Eyes flashing, Blake tossed her hair over her shoulder. “Absolutely not. This isn’t my idea. You’d best get on with it.”

  I looked between them, confused. “Get on with what?”

  Austin cleared his throat. “Mira thought it would be an interesting idea for a show, you see. She wants to film Rhys on his quest to find a bride. And with the success of The Pageant, she thought it would be smashing to have another contest, this time up here in the North. A much smaller affair, of course, maybe five young women tops.”

  “Five young women in a contest for what?” I cried.

  “For an engagement.” Austin swallowed hard. “Rhys will choose one of them as his queen.”

  I threw back my head and laughed. “Good luck to all of you. The king would never approve of such a broadcast, I’m certain.”

  “That’s the thing—he’s already endorsed it. Mira went gangbusters this morning. She’s all hot on this idea. She spoke to my father, and he’s in agreement. In fact, this is the only time he’s been positive about Rhys being crowned king of the Realm. My father believes The Pageant gave the royals some momentum, if you will. He thinks that a new dating show will keep it going. When Rhys marries a human settler, it will only strengthen my parents’ stronghold—that’s what my father thinks, anyway.”

  I snorted. “Well, then, good luck to Rhys and his five contestants. I’m sure they’ll be very happy together.”

  “There’s more to it.” Austin looked miserable. “Mira mentioned to the king that she thought it would help ratings if you were one of the contestants. The settlers loved you in The Pageant, of course. The king agreed that a familiar face would be perfect to hook viewers. He wants you on the show. He told me that directly, Tamara. He insisted.”

  I opened my mouth and then closed it. For once, I was speechless.

  Say My Name

  The king wants me on the show.

  I finally found some words. “What if…what if I say no?”

  “It’s your choice, of course. I can intervene on your behalf with my father,” Prince Austin said. “And then you can go on about your business. I’m aware that this is a very big ask.”

  I arched an eyebrow, waiting for him to continue. “But?”

  Austin reached for my hand and squeezed it. “But you would be helping Rhys immensely, and by extension, you’re helping me. I’ve put myself on the line by granting the wolves the Realm. My father only agreed because I gave him no choice. He doesn’t believe the wolves will be successful on their own, and if they fail, he thinks it will reflect poorly on my family. But I think they deserve a fair chance. If the transition goes well, it’s better for all of us—Northerners, settlers, vampires, wolves, and humans. We’ve worked hard for unity among our various kinds. You’ve worked hard. This is a contribution I won’t soon forget.”

  I dropped his hand. “You already owe me a title for last night. What will this performance earn me—a country?”

  Austin smiled. “I will have to give your reward some thought, my lady.”

  Just then, Mira came from the castle, waving her arms at us. “Hello, Tamara, Blake, Your Highness. Thank goodness. I’ve been looking all over.” Neither her high-heeled boots nor her tight-fitting skirt slowed her down one bit, and she reached us before I was ready. “Tamara, darling, has the prince shared the good news with you? You’re returning to prime time!”

  “I haven’t agreed to be a contestant, Mira.” My voice was colder than I intended, but I was angry that she’d gone behind my back and put me in this position.

  “Oh, but you’ll be perfect!” She clapped her hands together. “You’re already a star, darling, a fan favorite. I’ve been getting loads of mail asking if you’ll have a show of your own. This is the perfect opportunity. Even the king approves, and we all know how reluctant he can be about such matters.”

  When I didn’t say anything, Mira turned to the grounds and spread her arms wide. “Just picture it. The scene opens with the glorious North as the dramatic backdrop. The handsome werewolf king paces, concentrating on building a new kingdom for his pack. For the first time in history, the wolves will have a country of their own. It’s exactly what Rhys has been waiting for all these years. But wait…something is missing! Rhys is…lonely. He needs a companion, an equal. The werewolf king needs a bride to rule by his side and to fulfill his happiness. Five beautiful young maidens will be brought to the Realm to compete for this honor. Over the coming weeks, Rhys will court each of them—and of course, I will get fabulous footage of all the romance and, even better, all the drama between the girls! It’s going to be a hit—I know it. I’m very good at my job and can smell a blockbuster from a mile away. Trust me, Tamara. This will take your fame to the next level!”

  “I don’t care about being famous.” I was actually surprised to realize I felt that way. I’d always thought being a star would be awesome, but after being on television, I knew that fame for fame’s sake was empty indeed.

  “Then think about how you could be of service to Rhys by helping him build an empire,” Mira said quickly.

  “Turns out I’m more interested in my own political career than advancing the interests of others, thank you very much.”

  When she started to argue, I cut her off. “I’m sure you’ll find some nubile young settlers with no hope of a future who’ll be happy to throw themselves at a werewolf. But I’m not one of them.” I turned to Blake. “See that the gnomes come in, won’t you?”

  First she gaped at me, then she nodded, then I stormed off.

  “I’ll come and see you later!” Blake called. “Save me a seat at dinner!”

  I didn’t bother to answer, so full was my mind with the indignities Mira Kinney had just rained down on me. Five beautiful young maidens will be chosen to compete for this honor. Am I missing something? Is it considered an honor to fight other girls for the attention of a filthy beast who is looking for someone to whelp his litter? I fumed as I hustled back to my chambers. Lost in thought, I almost collided headlong into Eve.

  “Tamara! Why are you so sprinting down the hall? What’s the matter?”

  When I clenched my fists together, she pointed to my door. “Let’s go to your room, and then you can tell me everything. You look as though you’re going to blow your stack.”

  I followed my friend inside. As soon as she closed the door, I went off. “I’ve just come from the grounds, where I was accosted by Mira Kinney. She asked me to star in another dating show—this one with the bachelor wolf!”

  “Ah.” Eve didn’t look that surprised. “I could see Mira’s wheels spinning this morning at breakfast. I’ve heard she’s been on the hunt for her next project.”

  “Well, now she has one.” I flopped down onto my bed. “Prince Austin also spoke to me about it—he said I would be helping the cause. Rhys has agreed to the show and wants me as a contestant.”

  “Not surprising, as he already asked you to marry him.” Eve chuckled but stopped abruptly when I glared at her.

  “That’s not even the bad part. The king wants me to do it, too—he said it’ll be good for ratings, and we all know how invested he is in his ratings.” I picked at my duvet. “What am I going to do? I don’t want to be in another bloody contest, mugging for the cameras. And then, of course, Rhys will choose me, and that will be a whole other level of disaster.”

  “You can say no—to all of it.”

  “I already did.” I sighed. “But why do I feel like the contest is the sort of thing you can’t say no to?”

  “Hold your ground, Tamara.” Eve smiled in encouragement. “I know how stubborn you can be. If the others don’t, they’re in for a rude awakening.”

  Eve and I spent the rest of the afternoon together, sneaking through the rear exit and taking a long, refreshing walk in the woods. As we headed back to the grounds, the dinner bell sounded. Famished from the exercis
e and fresh air, I went straight to the dining room. I was busy heaping roasted cauliflower with cheese sauce onto my plate when a familiar voice said, “I love a woman with a good appetite.”

  I glared over my shoulder. “Ah, Rhys. Aren’t you dining from your dog dish tonight?”

  “Ha ha.” He grinned, and I noticed that he was once again wearing a shirt, his hair pulled back neatly from his face. “This is why we need you on the show—a bit of spirit will help ratings, I’m certain.”

  He was agitating me, so I took extra cheese sauce. I looked around to make sure no one was near before I spoke again. “I can’t believe you’d agree to do this. Did you watch The Pageant?”

  When Rhys looked confused, I asked, “Do you even own a television?”

  “Of course not. Austin and the others watched the show when it was on, but I always preferred to stay outside and hunt.” He shrugged his big shoulders, and I was annoyed to see that his tunic fit snugly across his chest, accentuating his muscles. “But we don’t have to watch it, right? We just have to go on about our business and get filmed. Sounds pretty easy to me.”

  I tsked. “Starring in a dating show is a lot more of a nuisance than that. You won’t have any privacy, Rhys. They’ll make you pretend to be far more civilized than you are for the cameras. You’ll be bathing and wearing clothes every day, not to mention hair and makeup.”

  He screwed up his face. “I’m a man—I don’t wear makeup.”

  “All actors wear it, and you will, too. I haven’t even mentioned the worst thing—the girls. You’ll have to deal with them, and they are a lot of work. They will be shipped up here from the settlements, away from their families and all they’ve ever known. They’re meeting supernatural creatures for the first time. They will be petrified. But what’s going to be even rougher? All those feelings and emotions. Human women are very particular, Rhys. They’re needy. They need lots of attention. They’ll be expecting you to sweep them off their feet, and they’ll be jealous of each other. There will probably be many tears shed.”